Biography: Barack Obama

This cable-television biography about the life of Illinois senator Barack Obama was made before he began campaigning to be the Democratic party's candidate for the 2008 presidential race. Still, the program suggests Obama has one or another kind of profound, American destiny as a mixed-race activist who never comfortably fit into one or another group, and had to look deep into his own roots to understand his identity.

The son of a white American mother and black Kenyan father, Obama was abandoned by the latter when he returned to his native country to work for its improvement. Raised by his mother - whom Obama credits with teaching him many of his values - and his grandmother, Obama lived in Hawaii as a child but moved to Indonesia for a few years when his mom remarried. There, Obama saw cyclical poverty and the underlying factors that perpetuate it before returning to Hawaii. Interviews with childhood friends and his sister describe Obama's restlessness before attending Harvard law school and propelling himself into a life of public service and community activism.

Often accused of lacking enough political experience to qualify him for the White House, Obama comes across in this show as a visionary and experienced consensus-builder who can reach across opposing points of view.

19 Comments / User Reviews

We love Mr. B.Obama as a great Orator. He has a Highly analytical mind. We like that he destroyed Bin Laden ( But We do not approve killing of any living being ).

But we are very critical of him for paving the way for the demise of Colonel Maummar Gaddafi. He was a revolutionary leader who did so much for his country Libiya. I am a Sri Lankan.We need a leader like Mr. Gaddafi to develop our country.

This
should help explain why this country is going in a different direction
than what is generally understood as freedom. The ideals of a man who's
life was based on desire for equality, but where he fails is in that
fact that not everyone believes people
are held back by others. In reality, people have an inalienable
responsibility to choose their paths in life. Most of us will figure
this out on our own. The rest of us will think life owes us something
because we're alive.
History
is important, but dwelling on past faults will lead us nowhere. Placing
blame on success is a cop out! This is where our President has failed
us as a nation.

I have not had the opportunity to watch the biography yet, but I an already confused just reading the introduction. I am assuming, that Barack is a natural born citizen, after all how would he qualify for president. I am also assuming that after his father abandoned him; his mother remarried, and moved to Indonesia when he was still a child. The part that confuses me; he must have been Very young when he RETURNED to his native country, and I will assume again, they were returning from Kenya were his father lived. How then did he, as a very young child, "return to his native country to work for it's improvement." (child-a young human being below the age of puberty. Oxford Dictionaries) Wow! He must be a prodigy! I am amazed that someone so young knew from the womb that he wanted to change his native country. I will assume that is America, but you know what they say about assuming.

Obama, having been born on US SOIL, in the state of Hawaii (which has been shown overwhelmingly by his short and long form BCs and the confirmation of them by the officials of BOTH parties in Hawaii, and the public Index Data file and the birth notices sent to the Hawaii newspapers by the DOH of Hawaii in 1961 and the teacher who wrote home and even Kapiolani Hospital has confirmed, twice) is a Natural Born Citizen due simply to his place of birth. Every child born on US soil is a Natural Born US Citizen except for the children of foreign diplomats and enemy invaders.

“Under the longstanding English common-law principle of jus soli, persons born within the territory of the sovereign (other than children of enemy aliens or foreign diplomats) are citizens from birth. Thus, those persons born within the United States are "natural born citizens" and eligible to be President. Much less certain, however, is whether children born abroad of United States citizens are "natural born citizens" eligible to serve as President ..."---- Edwin Meese, et al, THE HERITAGE GUIDE TO THE CONSTITUTION (2005) [Edwin Meese was Ronald Reagan’s attorney general, and the Heritage Foundation is a well-known
Conservative organization.]

Re: "Very young when he RETURNED to his native country..."

Obama's FATHER returned to his native country, Kenya (in his 30s), Obama returned from Indonesia to HIS native country, the USA, in 1971 when he was almost ten years old. Yes, very young.

Muralip
- 08/11/2012 at 13:29

Obama inherited such a bad economy. The American economy's problem can not be solved in four or even next ten years as it is facing severe structural problems. The Republicans have such a stupid economic theory that reducing taxes on rich will solve its problems- it will be a total disaster

A great personal story is the president's special distinctive - but he hardly developed into the president that the country needed since he served. He showed that there is more to a good story and a sharp liberal mind to become a true American leader. He has shown that a sharp liberal leaning will not be enough to face the realities of day to day American life,economics, and running the country. He had all the theory and ideology to promote a care for all mentality, not thinking through the cost - and its effects on all Americans - a downward trending economy that eventually led to slow but sure decline. He should take stock and honor his own words that if the conditions don't improve - he will be a one termer. If he has not the people will.

What a great fairytale that was, it seems he can do no wrong. But then again I have sat through one term with him and nearly all his promises he didn't fulfill so instead of voting on the man's story or his birthplace or what religion he is or even his inspiring speeches lets vote on the issues and hold all politicians accountable for their promises.

wow! Having watched this video from start to finish and having no other knowledge about Obama I might have followed all those other American's and voted for him for President. I however listened to what he said in his first speeches on t.v. and found that he told half truths and out right falsehoods about many things. I therefore was among many who did not support him in his run for President of The United States---an today I still feel that I was right in my thinking.

this, this right here.. a life changing doc. Obama is truely living the American dream. From the ghetto's with nothing with a drug addiction then being a christian and president. hail obama he is saving millions of lifes every day!